Trestle



Feb. 3, 1942. T. G. MAXWELL TRESTLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 26, 1941 Inventor TRESTLE Filed May 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F a Inventor mamas M2716]! I I M /7 Patented Feb. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE TRESTLE Thomas Maxwell, Venice, Calif.

Application May 26, 1941','Serial No. 395,259

(01. so e-) 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in trestles such as are commonly called horses, and the principal object in view is to provide a sturdy, inexpensive, device of this character which is foldable into compact form when not in use and adapted to be quickly and easily unfolded for setting up as desired.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claim are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention, unfolded, or set up, for use,

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in bottom plan,

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation,

Figure 5 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 55 of Figure 3 and drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of one of the leg mountings,

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 'I-'I of Figure 2 and drawn to an enlarged scale, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Reference being had to the drawings by numerals, and first to Figures 1 to '7 thereof, my improved trestle includes the usual top beam I, a pair of legs 2 for each end of the beam I, and a novel mounting for each pair of legs comprising as its basic element a chair plate 3.

The beam I may be of any suitable material and form but preferably comprises a 4 X 4 length of wood. The legs 2 are preferably 2 x 4s. The mountings each being a counterpart of the other, a description of one will suffice for both.

Each chair plate 3 is formed of suitable light gauge metal and comprises a substantially rectangular bottom 4, a pair of opposed side flanges 5 extending at right angles from the bottom 4, and a front edge flange 6 extending at a right angle from the bottom 4 oppositely relative to the flanges 5. The rear edge of the bottom 4 is hinged, as at I, to the front end of an elongated hinge plate 8 secured flat against the bottom of the beam I to extend along said bottom, the securing means comprising bolts 9 extending adjacent each end of the plate 8 and having the heads II] thereof countersunk in the top of said beam I. As will now be understood and by reference to Figures 4 and 5, each chair plate 4 is swingable on its hinge 1 into unfolded position, on the one hand, in which the bottom thereof is opposed flat to the beam I and the side flanges 5 similarly opposed to the sides of said beam or, on the other hand, said plate may be swung into folded position beneath the hinge plate 8, said plate being swingable into unfolded position forwardly and upwardly relative to the beam I and downwardly and rearwardly into unfolded position.

A latch is provided for each chair plate 3 to retain the same in the described unfolded position. Each latch comprises a bar ll of spring metal having a rear end secured flat against the under side of the hinge plate 8 adjacent the rear end of the latter as by the aforementioned bolts 9, and a right angled front end I2 adapted to fit under and behind the bottom edge of the flange 6 of the related chair plate 4 to block unfolding of said chair plate, said end I2 of the bar II providing a finger grip' I3 by means of which the bar II may be flexed downwardly to releasing position relative to said flange 6. As best shown in Figure 4, the latch bar I I, in the folded position of the chair plate 4 reacts upwardly against the flange 6 to maintain said plate in folded position.

Each chair plate 4 is provided on the side flanges 5 thereof with a pair of leg holding socket plates I4 each comprising a back I5 suitably secured, as by welding not shown, to one of the side flanges 5 to depend below the latter in the unfolded position of the chair plate, said back having a pair of channel-type side flanges I6 flaring outwardly and downwardly in the unfolded position of the chair plates. Each pair of socket plates I4 is designed to have fitted therein the appropriate ends of a pair of the legs 2, said ends of the legs being secured in the plates I4 as by bolts II extending through the flanges I6. The ends of the legs 2 fitted in the socket plates I4 are wedged therein as best shown by dotted lines in Figure 2, the inner faces of said ends being beveled to fit flush against the backs of the socket plates I4 and the arrangement being such that when the chair plates I4 are unfolded the legs in each pair flare outwardly and downwardly relatively.

As will be understood, when the chair plates are swung to unfolded poition, the pairs of legs 2 through the beam I from top to bottom thereof are correspondingly swunk into upright position,

and when said plates 4 are swung into the described folded position, the pairs of legs 2 are swung inwardly and upwardly beside the beam I, for instance, as shown in Figure 4.

Preferably the socketed ends of the legs 2 are cut at an appropriate angle such that when said legs are unfolded said pairs flare outwardly and downwardly with respect to each other.

In the modified embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 8, the latch bar of the preferred embodiment is eliminated and the chair plate designated I8 is secured in unfolded position, likewise the legs l9, by means of bolts 20 extending downwardly through the beam 2! and through the plate l8 and provided with a wing nut 22 to be turned against the plate.

The foergoing will, it is believed, suflice to impart a clear understanding of my invention since the operation thereof has been set forth in connection with the description of parts.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification in other respects than as herein set forth, and right is reserved to such other modifications falling fairly within the scope of the protection prayed.

What is claimed is:

A trestle of the class described comprising a top beam, pairs of legs for supporting opposite ends of the beam, respectively, and a pair of mountings for attaching the pairs of legs, respectively, to said beam, said mountings each comprising a chair plate hinged to the bottom of the beam to swing upwardly fiat against the bottom of the beam or downwardly to fold the same on the beam, said plate comprising a pair of side flanges straddling the beam when the plate is swung upwardly, a pair of leg holding sockets on said side flanges, respectively, coacting releasable latch devices on the beam and chair plate, respectively, for retaining said plate in upwardly swung and folded positions, respectively, said sockets comprising flaring side flanges of channeled form converging relatively for gripping the legs and forming an open front for the sockets THOMAS G. MAXWELL. 

